Terrific St Thomas’ hold too many trump cards for the title holders

Inside Track with John McIntyre

It was probably just as well that rival sideline mentors Louis Mulqueen and TJ Ryan – neither, ironically, a Galway man – had a heated exchange at Pearse Stadium on Sunday as there wasn’t much on-field tension during Sunday’s county hurling final such was the disparity in standard between St Thomas’ and Liam Mellows.

For all we know, Mulqueen, the former Clare coach, and ex-Limerick boss Ryan may have had some history at inter-county level, but their locking of horns in Salthill arguably generated more excitement among the neutrals than the match itself. St Thomas’ were just too superior in completing the notable feat of winning three Galway titles in seven years.

Ahead of the final, few anticipated that Mellows would be exposed in the manner that they were. Having looked to be timing their run perfectly and returning to a happy hunting ground, the city outfit were unable to match St Thomas’ intensity or quality. Failing to score from play in the opening-half summed up their attacking woes, while their defence never got to grips with the outstanding Burke brothers, Darragh and Eanna.

Having fallen by nine points to St Thomas’ in a group encounter as recently as September, Mellows should have carried a motivational edge into Sunday’s decider but, in reality, it was Kevin Lally’s squad which proved the hungrier and more driven. David Burke set the tone with a terrific long-range point in the second minute and they were in no mood to accept second best.

It sums up the big gulf between the teams that St Thomas’ drew a blank on the scoreboard over the final 20 minutes of action (including injury time) and yet still managed to emulate the margin of their big group win over Mellows. With the excellent Fintan Burke back in their ranks after missing the semi-final, this was close to their best form of the past few years and leaves them in great fettle for a major crack at regaining the All-Ireland Club title in the New Year.

St Thomas’ should take care of Cushendall of Antrim next February before a Croke Park showdown with either Ballygunner of Waterford or Ballyhale Shamrocks, assuming the Kilkenny champions get the better of Ballyboden in the Leinster final on Sunday week. With title favourites Na Piarsaigh sent packing in Thurles last Sunday, the race for the Tommy Moore Cup is wide open.

For more,  read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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